Art of navigation



Feb. 2U, 1923.

T. I. IVIAHONEY. ART 0F NAVIGATION. FILED NOV. 30.1921.

l `51 mzzrar www Nm TIMUTHY JUSEJPH MAHONEY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALMERNIEAART OJE NAVIIGATXON.

Application tiled November 30, 1921. Serial It'o. 51,29.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that ll, .TIMOTHY JOSEPH MAHoNEY,a citizen ot the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the countyof lios Angeles and State of California, have discovered and inventednew and useful Improvements in the Art of Navigation, of

l'which the following is a specification.

This invention more particularly relates to a method for facilitatingthe travel of a vessel through the water; and includes means wherebypower is effectively applied to propel the vessel and to prevent skinfrictionbetween the vessel and the water.

ln carrying but this invention propulsive jets of compressed air havingvaporized oil mingled therewith are drivelragainst the water atrequisite depths along the hull ot the vessel.

ll also make provision whereby oil is supl plied to said compressed air,thus to supply lubricating coating to the submerged yportions of thehull of a vessel.

The invention also includes means whereby vmy newly invented method maybe put into practical operation.

dObjects of the invention are reduction of skin friction, the eiectiveapplication of propulsive power, and the elimination and prevention ofmarine growth upon the submerged portions of the hull of a vessel.i

Objects are to increase the speed of vessels, to diminish the -powerrequired to propel vessels, and' to reduce the strain, and the wear andtear on the hull of the vessel; and also to lessen the vibration of thevessel due to such strain. y

@ther objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the Subj oined detail description and the appendedclaims.

The invention may be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing. Figure 1-is a side elevation of a vessel equipped with meansadapted to carry out this invention and discovery.

lFigQQ is a vertical section on the plane indicatedby line x2, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the propelling nozzles in placeon the hull of the vessel, a fragment of which is shown. The viewindicates the`practioal operation ot the invention.

y `mlFig. 4L indicates the application of the invcntion looking up atthe bottom of the hull, shown in Fig. 1

The air nozzles 1 are arranged alongthe hull 2 of the vessel below thewater line 3 and are directed toward the stern of the vessel which maybe supplied as usual with one or more screw propellers as indicated at4;. Any desired number of nozzles'may be provided and each nozzle isconnected through an appropriate pipe as at 5 to a source 6 ofcompressed air, the application of which air is controlled by a valve 7.An oil tank 8 is connected by a valved pipe 9 with' the pipe 5, and by avalved pipe 10 with the air tank 1l; so that when the valves 7, 9 and 10are open, air and oil will be supplied through the nozzle'. v

In practical operation the compressed air and also the oil,when it isturned on will keep the marine growth oft the submerged portion of theboat. The air may be supplied by any suitable means as a blower or anair compressor 6 having sufiicient capacity to supply the air under therequisite pressure, and as the air issues from the nozzles the force ofits Compression is exerted directly against the water in which thenozzle is submerged. rlllne reaction drives the vessel forward and latthe same time the air rises from the numerous nozzles, providing an aircushion to support the vessel.

,Any suitable number of nozzles may be applied and their sizes anddiameters may be determined mathematically as also their locationsbeneath the hull.

rll`he nozzles are'v preferably expanded nozzles so that the area of theorifice where the air pressure ishapplied to the water will be as largeas possible within the limits. ot the nozzle diameter.y

The cross-sectional form of nozzle may be determined by the constructoras either oblong or circular. rlFhe circular form is indicated in thedrawings. Y

The connection between the air tank 11 and the nozzles may be through acheck valve 12 so` that water will not flow into the compressors. f

llt is to be understood that the compression of the air need not beexcessive as the greatest depths to which the nozzles would be submergedin present marine construe/tion would onlybe sixty-four feet andtherefore air gcompression i" forty pounds would give free flow et airfrom the nozzle and would exceed the water pressure by ten pounds ineven the deepest sea-going vessels l of the present day.

With higher pressure of compressed air, the immediate discharge outlety13 of each nozzle might be advantageously made only a quarter toone-half inch diameter and the orifice 14 leading therefrom could expandto the end of the nozzle as indicated to adiameter 'of two #inches moreor less at its mouth so that constant flow of air through the nozzleswould constantly relieve the air pressure upon the compression andstorage tank and avoid loss of pressure. The nozzles are spaced apart atsuch distances alongf the hull as will allowthe Water pressing inbetween the nozzles to afford such resistance to the outflow of the. airas will give the most effective pressure on the abutment formed by thenozzle.

The vessel may be provided not only with a set of propelling air nozzles1 directed to- Ward the stern of the vessel for direct )ropulsion, butalso with a set of propelling air nozzles 1 directed toward the stem ofthe vessel for reverse pro nilsion; and means, as the valves 7, 9', 10and 15, and the pipes which they control are provided for supplyingcompressed air to said sets respectively according to the. adjustment ofsaid valves.

In the drawing the lower pipe-lines 5, 5"

are arranged for direct propulsion while a ythird line 5" is arrangedfor reverse. The

pipe 5 and its'nozzles 1 are at less depth lthan the pipes 5 and 5 andtheir nozzles 1 for the reason that the rearward propulsion is lessfrequent and less continuous than the forward propulsion and thereforethe air will be more effectively applied by nozzles for forwardpropulsion. than for reverse.

Pipes 5 and 5 are controlled by valve 16.

'. From the foregoing it will be seen that air pressure is supplied tothe top of the oil in the oil tank 8 by means of the pipe 10 and valve10', By opening the valve 9 a .regulated supply of oil will be furnishedto air into the tankV 11 from which it is delivered by means of the pipeconnections and valve 7 to the nozzles 1. By opening the valves 10 and 9oil may/be constantly supplied in regulated quantities to the propellingair and during the passage ofthe air and oil in the pipes before beingemitted from the nozzles 1, such oil will become l thoroughly vaporizedand intermingled with vessel and prevent mariney growth thereon.

An advantage is that finely vaporized oil may be continuously suppliedto the hull ol the vessel in such regulated quantities as -may benecessary to `keep the hull constantly oiled.

Another advantage is that by finely' vaporizing or atomizing the oil andinterniingling the same with the air, such oil will not come to thesurface of the water in blotches` or in noticeable quantities andthereby violate e.\'- isting marine laws; thus permitting continuousoiling of the hull whether in the harbor or out at sea,

l claim'.

1. The improvement in the art of navigation set forth which consists inapplying at numerous places under and alongside the submerged portionsof the hull of a vessel. compressed air having valiorized oil niixcdtherewith directed in the direction opposite to that in which the boatis to be propelled.

2. The improvement in the art of navigation setforth which consists inthe projection` at numerous places beneath and alongside-the submergedparts of the hull of a vessel, of compressed air having oil n'iinglcdtherewith and projected in a direction opposite to that in which thevessel is to be propelled` 3. A vessel provided below its water linewith propelling air nozzles opening rearwardly; means tosupply.compressed air through said nozzles. and means to supply aregula-ted quantity of oil to said coinpressed air.

4. The combination #with the hull ol' a vessel, of nozzles openingrearwardly through said hull below the water line: and means forsimultaneously pressed air and oil mingled therewith to the water forsimultaneous lubrication and propulsion.

5. The combination with a vessel. oi

nozzles opening alongside said vessel below the water line; an air tank:means to supply compressed air to said tank: pipes connecting saidnozzles and said tank: an oil tank; means connecting said oil tankwitlrsaid air tank; means connecting said oil tank with said pipestandmeans to regulate t-lie supply of oil forced -from said oil tank intosaid pipes.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles.California. this 19th day of November, 1921.

TIMOTHY Josie-PH Manonnr.

llVitness:

JAMES R. TowNsENn.

forcing coni-

